East Devon

East Devon's population increased by about 6,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of East Devon increased by 5.5%, from almost 126,000 to 132,000.

The addition of just over 6,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Devon was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older East Devon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of East Devon increased by one year, from 48 to 49 years.

This area had the highest average age in the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 16.0% of people in East Devon are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and East Devon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

East Devon saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just under one in two (48.5%) people aged 16 to 74 in East Devon said they were employed, compared with 45.5% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 2.5%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly saw a greater rise in the proportion of employed people (from 50.5% to 53.8%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, East Devon fell below four local authority areas, including Cornwall and South Hams, to become the South West local authority area with the sixth-lowest percentage of employed people.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in East Devon

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in East Devon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Isles of Scilly.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 27.1% to 31.4%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in East Devon without children decreased from 69.6% to 69.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 23.0%, while the percentage of households in East Devon with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.4% to 8.0%.

The proportion of households without children decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of households without children.

Isles of Scilly had the South West's highest proportion of households without children (74.2%), while Cheltenham had the region's third highest proportion (68.8%).

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in East Devon

The percentage of East Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 3.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.9%, while the percentage of East Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.0% to 88.0%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in East Devon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in East Devon was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.3 points.

In 2011, 27.4% of respondents in East Devon gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in East Devon, 71.5% said they were Christian, compared with 84.1% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 8.1% to 8.9%.

In East Devon, 8.2% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.5% in 2001. In South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in East Devon increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and East Devon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of East Devon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.7% to 5.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.8%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67.1% in 2001. The percentage of East Devon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24.2% to 15.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in East Devon decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Devon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in East Devon, but at a slower rate than in Exeter (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with East Devon).

In East Devon, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.8% in 2001 to 13.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Exeter increased from 13.8% to 21.0%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11.1% to 17.0%.

The rate of social housing in East Devon fell from 9.8% to 9.3%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77.7% to 75.0%.

Private renting in East Devon increased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Devon, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in East Devon working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.9% to 11.8% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week remained close to 2.6%.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in East Devon decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Devon, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in East Devon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.7% to 7.8% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.9%) households had only one person, compared with 29.7% in 2001. While the percentage of households in East Devon which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 35.2% to 33.5%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 10.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of East Devon residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.0% to 2.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in East Devon remained close to 2.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and East Devon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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